Focusing on Training Over Rank in Martial Arts

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - EntSun -- Is a new rank your biggest motivating factor in martial arts?

Are you fully committed to your martial arts training?

In nearly 50 years of martial arts training, competing, deep study, and teaching, we've seen it over and over. There is a real difference between the exceptional martial artist and the average student. The exceptional martial artist keeps rank in its proper perspective. They know that the momentary joy of getting a new belt or certificate fades. Don't go for that. The deep internal joy of learning and doing great martial arts changes you forever. Go for that.

Getting a new rank can be very motivating. It's recognition from your instructor or your system that you've worked hard and learned key aspects of your martial art. It's a Catch-22, however; getting new belts (or sashes, or whatever external emblems of progress your system uses) is nice, but if you only focus on training for the next belt, you'll be a dilettante forever.

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Forge Character with Martial Arts Training
You can't hide it. If your primary focus is on the next rank, your ability will top out. Your attendance will spike just before tests but will fall off in between. Your focus and attention will lag during "consolidation" periods—those times when the very purpose of training is to repeat your top-level skills until they are hard-wired into your nervous system. There are ability and character transformations that can only be gotten through real immersive training. Seishin tanren (austere spiritual training) is the method for forging character. That's why it's so important to pick an art and a dojo that you like; there will be some heavy weather on the way to greatness, but starting in the plus column of love for your art will help get you through it.

Getting past that intellectual understanding and into a true emotional understanding of the depth and joy possible in your training has to come from inside you. Commit completely.

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Learn more here: https://www.smaa-hq.com/articles/article/training-over-rank-world-martial-arts-association

SMAA – A World Martial Arts Association for You
The Shudokan Martial Arts Association promotes training based around the two central pillars of classical Japanese martial arts: kata geiko and seishin tanren. The use of handed-down kata helps our members, regardless of division, to forge their spirits to face the stress of combat and the uncertainties of life. In this way, those in the SMAA learn to protect themselves, and live well, while they develop the spiritual strength needed to make a positive contribution to their communities and the world as a whole.

Contact them today at 734-720-0330 to join a world martial arts association with high-ranking members across the globe.